Heat exchange and temperature sensing device and method of use

A heat exchanging device for regulating a temperature of an esophagus when heat or cold is delivered to a left atrium of a heart, comprising:

• an elongated shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the elongated shaft defining at least a first lumen and a second lumen;
• a handle attached to the proximal end of the elongated shaft;
• a heat exchanger attached to the distal end of the elongated shaft, the heat exchanger comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a cavity therebetween, at least a portion of said cavity being in fluid communication with the first lumen and the second lumen of the elongated shaft, the heat exchanger comprising an insertable configuration and a heat exchanging configuration,
• wherein a cross-section of the heat exchanger in the insertable configuration is smaller than a cross-section of the heat exchanger in the heat exchanging configuration, and
• wherein said heat exchanger comprises a balloon which is expandable, wherein said balloon is constrained by a plurality of welds attaching an anterior surface and a posterior surface of the balloon and forming a plurality of flow channels through the balloon, the balloon being constrained in an axis of the cross-section such that when said balloon is expanded to the heat exchanging configuration the cross-sectional shape of the heat exchanger is substantially oblong in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the balloon and said cross-section of the heat exchanger in the heat exchanging configuration substantially conforms to and corresponds with a cross-section of an inside surface of the esophagus such that the esophagus is substantially maintained in its natural shape and location when the heat exchanger is in its heat exchanging configuration, the plurality of channels oriented as a series along the longitudinal axis of the balloon such that the heat exchange fluid flowing through the heat exchanger is channeled to a pair of side edges of the heat exchanger.